Pool-table



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

POOL TABLE.

110.432. 158. Patented July 15, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. VIOLETT.

. POOL TABLE.

No. 432,458. Patented July 15, 1890.

d WITNESSES.

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\ W. H. VIOLETT.

POOL TABLE...

No. 432,458. Patented July 15, 1890.

WITNESS ESI; v llVVE/VTOR WC'ZZLICLTIL 7[ I By M g ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

WILLIAM II. VIOLETT, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

POOL-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 432,458, dated July 15, 1890.

Application filed J nne 19, 1889. Serial No. 314,877. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. VIOLETT, of Grand Junction, in the county of Mesa and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pool-Tables, of which the following is aspecilication.

My invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in pool-tables, which connect, as shown, with the carriers '13.

will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the acccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention, the body of the table being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing my invention applied to a pool-table. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the racks D. Fig. 4 is abottom plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detail View, hereinafter referred to.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates a pool-table, which is shown provided with my invention, A indicating the pockets of the table.

B indicates the inclined carriers or tubes which lead down from the end pockets, meeting in a single pipe B at a point under the table, while B indicates the tubes or carriers which lead from the side pockets down and The object of arranging the tubes B as shown, in-

stead of leading them direct-1y down to the point B is to prevent the balls entering the side pockets from running down too rapidly to the point B If the tubes B ran directly to B in case of a scratch the ball would reach the point B so soon that it would pass the gate N before there would be time to pull the cord p and turn it into the basket 0, as hereinafter described.

O indicates an inclined switch, which conveys the balls from the end B of the carriers to the racks D. These tubular racks are arranged side by side, as shown, and are generally eight in number, that being the largest number of players thatusually play at one time at one table.

The upper end of the switch-tube C re ceives the lower end of the carrier B while the lower curved edge of the switch-board O has secured to it a curved rack C The inner ends of the racks D are curved so as to conform to the curvature of the switch-board, as shown, and to the under side of the racks is secured a curved metal plate X, on which the curved end of the switch-board is supported and turns. The switch is turned by means of a rod E, having a bevel-pinion E on its lower end which meshes with the teeth of the rack C the upper end of this rod having a crank-handle F for turning it. One revolution of the crank F moves the switch-tube from one rack D to the next.

hen player No. 1 is at the table, the switch rests in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the switch-tube registering with the open upper end of rack No. 1, when all the balls falling in the table-pockets will run down into rack 1. \Vhen the second player goes to play, the crank F is turned for one revolution, bringing the lower end of the switchtube to register with the mouth of rack N0. 2, so that all the balls he pockets will enter rack No. 2, In like manner-the switch is adjusted from rack to rack until the last player has played, depositing each players balls in a separate rack, when the crank F is turned in the opposite direction, working the switch back to the first tube for player No. 1 to again play. In dotted lines in Fig. l the switch is shown moved to rack No. 6. hen the switch is moved from anyone rack to another, in order to prevent this being secretly done by any player to switch his opponents balls into his own rack while his opponent may be absorbed in the play he is making, a bell G is rung in the following manner: a a indicate a series of downwardly-projecting pins on the lower curved edge of the switch-board arranged at distances apart equal to the width of a rack D. hen the switch is turned from one rack to another, one of the pins to forces to one side the projecting end of a centrally-pivoted bar I). To the other end of this bar is secured one end of a cord c, which passes between small rollers f, and is secured at its other end to one end of a sliding bar (I. When the bar I) is turned, it will, through the cord 9, pull the bar d forward, 12 n being guide-rollers near the front end of bar d, when a wedgeshaped lug g on the side of bar d, pressing against a stationary pin 72, pushes the bar (Z to one side until a wedge-shaped step i on the bar is clear of the end of a centrally-pivoted lever j, when a rubber or spring 7; will draw the hammer end of this lever against the bell G. The bell G is thus sounded every time the switch is moved from one rack to the next, and as soon as a pin e is clear of the end of lever Z) a rubber or spring m draws the bar (Z back, so that the stop '5 will again engage with the end of the hammer-leverj.

\Vhen a game is finished and the balls are again wanted to put back on the table, a le ver II, which is pivoted at one end, is drawn back by its handle. This lever is centrally pivoted to a slide 1, which covers holes 0 in the bottom of the lower end of each rack D, and when the slide is drawn back by'the lever II the balls all fall out of the racks into a trough e and roll down the trough into a basket J, when they are put back on the table. \Vhen the lever II drawnback on the completion of a game to get the balls out of the racks to begin a new game, a larger bell K is rung, which notifies the bar-tenderthatone game has been played. This bell is rung in the following manner: A bar-lever s is pivoted at one end to the lever II at the point shown, and when the lever II is drawn back a wedgeshaped lug on the side of bar a, pressing against a stationary stop 5, forces the bar to one side until its free end is clear of the end of a eeiitrally-pivoted hammer-lever 0, when a rubber or spring 2) brings the hammer end of said lever in contact with the bell K. \Vhen the lever II is pushed forward, a rubber or spring q pulls the bar s back to its original position with'its free end engaging the end of lever T. It will be seen that by this arrangement the bar-tender will be no ti lied every time a game is played, and this device will render it impossible for players to play a number of games and then go to the counter and pay for a less number than were played; but if the tables are out in another room separate from the bar, as is often the case, the bell K and its attachments can be dispensed with and an electric bell placed near the bar, having its connecting-wires L running to two flexible copper plates 1L 2:, to the free ends of which they are secured, the copper plates being secured to the racks D. Now when the lever II is pulled back a pro jecting bar 10 on the lever presses against the plate it until its free end touches the other plate '1, thus completing the circuit and cansing the electric bell at the bar to ring. The plate a being flexible will spring back of itself when lever II is pushed forward.

\Vhen a scratch is made or any ball is pocketcd by mistake and has to be returned to the table and be played over, it is turned out of the carrier 3 at N before entering the switch, and goes into the basket 0, so that it does not enter and will not be counted in the racks. A scratch-ball is turned out of the carrier I before entering the switch 0 by opening a hinged gate N in the side of carrier I3 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '1, when the ball enters and passes down through an inclined tube N and falls from the end of the same into a basket 0. This gate is opened by means of a cord 1), that is connected to the gate, as shown, and runs entirely around the table under the edge of the rail A that projects on all. tables about one inch. This cord is held under the rail by eye-screws 20, and passes under small rollers a a under the table, and are connected at l) and to the gate N at b as shown.

W hen a player makes a misplay, he has only to place his hand on the table-edge, resting his thumb on the rail, when his forefinger will be in position to catch the cord and give it an outward pull. The cord is justtight enough to take up slack when the gate N is shut, and this pull on the cord will open the gatebefore the ball can reach it, and the ball will roll down through the tube N and fall into the basket 0, when it can be replaced on the table. As soon as the cord 1) is released a rubber or spring Z automatically closes the gate N and holds it shut. The cords 1) pass around the corner-pockets of the table-in tubes l, which are curved to fit around the pockets so that the cords will not draw against the pockets.

When a ball runs down through the tube N, it rings a bell R by striking the inner end of a centrally-pivoted hammer R, projecting through a slot in tube N, when a rubber or spring R draws the hammer against the bell R. This bell will prevent an opponentsball being turned into the scrateh-liasketunknown to him.

Near the lower end of the switch 0 is a slide U, which when lowered closes the switchcarrier and holds a ball entering the switch from entering the racks D, so that a player will not be compelled to move the switch over to his rack before he plays. If a man is a poor player, he will perhaps miss oftener than he will pocket a ball, and to be compelled to move the switch to his rack before.

he can play would be monotonous; but with the shield U he will not have to move the switch until he has pocketed a ball. The slide U is raised by means of a cord a passing around pnlleys U, V, and V, and cured at its upper end to a rod \V, having a flattened loop at its upper end for a handle and supported in bearings, as shown. The pulley V is placed over the center on which the upper end of the switch turns, so that the cord a will not be lengthened or shortened when the switch is moved from one rack to another.

The shield U can be raised and fastened up and not used if the players so desire. If they are experts or good players, they will not want it, it being principally intended for the use of beginners.

K indicates a register,which I employ when desired to registerthenumberot games played, so that the proprietor, if absent, can 011 his re- ICO ITO

turn see the number of games that have'been played on the table during his absence. This register maybe of anyordinary construction, and a bar H, pivoted to the lever II, projects within the register and will turn the mechanism thereof to register one game each time the lever H is drawn back to remove balls from the racks at the end of a game.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. Ina pool-table, the eombination,with its pockets A, of the inclined stationary carriers B and 13, leading from the several pockets and terminating in a single pipe B the series of racks D, arranged side by side, one for each player, and a movable tube or carrier C, adapted to connect the single pipe B with any one of the racks D, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the pockets A of a pool-table, of the inclined stationary carriers l3 and B, leading from the several pockets and teri'ninating in a single pipe B the series of parallel racks D, having the discharge-openings O and a slide covering the said openings, and a movable carrier C, adapted to connect the single pipe B with any one of the racks D, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the pockets of a pool-table, of the inclined stationary carriers 13 and B, leading from the several pockets and terminating in a single pipe B the series of parallel racks D, the inclined switchboard C, having secured upon it the switchcarrier 0, adapted to connect the single pipe 13 with any one of the racks D, and having at its lower end a curved rack 0 and the adjusting-rod E, having on its lower end a pinion E, meshing with the rack C substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the pockets A of a pool-table, of the inclined stationary carriers B and B, leading from the several pockets and terminating in a single carrier B the series of parallel racks D, the movable carrier C, adapted to connect the single carrier B with any one of the racks D, and a bell arranged to ring on the movement of the switch 0, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the pockets A of a pool-table, of the inclined stationary earriers B and 13, leading from the several pockets and terminating in asingle carrier Bithe series of inclined racks D, arranged side by side, the inclined movable switch-board 0, having the series of doWnwardly-projeeting pins a at its lower curved end, and the switchcarrier (J, secured upon the switchboard, the bar b, centrally pivoted beneath and having its forward end extending beyond the upper curved ends of the racks D, the sliding bar d, having on one side the wedge-1n g g and wedgestop 2', the cord 0, connecting the rear end of the pivoted bar Z) to the forward end of the sliding bar d, the stationary pin h, the spring 072, connected to the rear end of the sliding bar, the centrally-pivoted h am mer-lever an d its spring 70, and the bell G, arranged to be sounded by the hammer-lever, substantially as set forth.

(5. The combination, with the pockets A of a pool-table, of the inclined stationary carriers B and B, leading from the several pockets and terminating in a single pipe B the series of parallel racks D, having the discharge'openings o, the movable carrier 0, a slide covering the said openings, and the inclined trough 0, arranged beneath the openings o, substantially as set forth.

' 7. The combination, with the pockets A of a pooltable, of the'inelined stationary carriers B and B,lcadingfrom the several pockets and terminating in a single pipe B the series of parallel racks D, having the discharge-openings 0, the movable carrier 0, the slide I, covering the said openings, and the lever II, pivoted at one end and centrally pivoted to the slide I, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the pockets A of a pool-table, of the inclined stationary carriers B and B, leading from the several pockets and terminating in a single pipe B the series of parallel racks D, having the dischargeopenings 0, the movable carrier C, the slide I, covering the said openings, the lever H, pivoted at one end and centrally pivoted to the slide, and a bell arranged to ring on the movement of said lever, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the pockets A of a pool-table, of the inclined stationary carriers B and B, leading from the several pockets and terminating in a single carrier I3 the series of parallel racks D, having the discharge-openings o, the movable carrier 0, the slide I, covering the said openings, the lever II, pivoted at one end and centrally pivoted to the slide I, the bars .9, pivoted at one end to the lever H and having on one side the wedgelug t, the spring q, connected to the bar 3, the stationary pin 8, the centrally-pivoted hammer-lever 1', having one end engaged by the bar .9, the spring 13, connected to the lever r, and the bell K, arranged to be sounded by the hammer-lever, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the series of racks D, in which the balls from the several pockets are received, the said racks having thedis charge-openings 0, the slide I, covering the said openings, the lever H, pivoted at one end an d centrally pivoted to the slide I, a register K having the cogged wheel K, and the bar H, pivoted at its rear end to the lever H and having the notched forward end passing through a slot in the register-casing and engaging the wheel K, substantially asset forth.

11. The combination, with the single carrier B and the stationary carrier N, communicating at its upper end with the single carrier, of the hinged gate N and the bell R, secured to the side of the carrier N and having the pivoted spring-actuated hammer-lever R, the end of which projects within the carrier N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination, with a pool'table, of the inclined stationary carriers l3 and B, leading from the several pockets of the table and terminating in a single carrier 13 the series of parallel racks l), the movable carrier C, adapted to connect the single carrier 3 with any one of the racks D, and the slide U, arranged in the single carrier 13*, substantiall y as set forth.

13. The combination, with a pool-table, of the inclined stationary carriers l and 3', leading from the several pockets of the table and 

